hosting - how to know when to switch?

deciding when to dump a host

[ypsites]

Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on when you should dump your web host. What level of dissatisfaction is enough to offset the pain of switching (or resorting to self-hosting)?

At my current host (coincidentally the same one that hosts this forum -- the main reason I chose them) my site crawls and is down a lot (more than an hour tonight). I've already been moved to different servers twice -- starts out as an improvement but quickly deteriorates to same crappy performance. I'm tired of having my site criticized as dead slow, tired of how long it takes to upload files because the server responds so slowly, and tired of downtime that I am told "won't be more than 15 minutes" that inevitably turns into an hour or more (we're up to about 90 minutes tonight -- during a crunch time).

In case you're wondering, we're not on the "budget" plan. We're at the second highest cost plan.

Am I just unrealistic? I don't really want to self host -- I know it's a costly hassle. But, at the same time, I'm trying to grow my business -- including expanding it beyond my region to the rest of the US -- and it's hard to be credible talking to partners when your site seems like it's not ready for prime time because it's so sluggish.

What I also really don't understand is why my experience with this particular host is so much different than others' -- obviously, this site would not be hosted there if Brett, et al, hadn't had a good experience. I'm already paying the $$, so what else can I do to get better service -- any ideas? Is this just a function of consolidation -- are all the really good hosts just gone now? Or is there something I can do to encourage better service?

[treeline]

Sounds like you're already at the point of needing a change. In general, I'd say make several efforts to resolve things with hosting companies. If they can't or won't help, find a better one. There are plenty to choose from.

Curiously, I've seen friends have all manner of trouble at hosting companies I host lots of sites with. I seldom have any problem with them, and when one crops up they resolve it so efficiently and politely I have to smile. Perhaps you're just on the wrong server with all those videos of the latest starlet. Whatever the cause, I wouldn't suffer indefinitely.

[trillianjedi]

What I also really don't understand is why my experience with this particular host is so much different than others'

Are you sure this is a host issue?

What software are you running? Any particular demands (large graphics or flash)?

You might need to beef up by seperating servers/load balancing different aspects of what you're serving.

TJ